Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 700-422, Korea. ysung@knu.ac.kr

In a previous study, we recently claimed that dihydrotestosterone (DHT)-inducible dickkopf-1 (DKK-1) expression is one of the key factors involved in androgen-potentiated balding. We also demonstrated that L-ascorbic acid 2-phosphate (Asc 2-P) represses DHT-induced DKK-1 expression in cultured dermal papilla cells (DPCs). Here, we investigated whether or not L-threonate could attenuate DHT-induced DKK-1 expression. We observed via RT-PCR analysis and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay that DHT-induced DKK-1 expression was attenuated in the presence of L-threonate. We also found that DHT-induced activation of DKK-1 promoter activity was significantly repressed by L-threonate. Moreover, a co-culture system featuring outer root sheath (ORS) keratinocytes and DPCs showed that DHT inhibited the growth of ORS cells, which was then significantly reversed by L-threonate. Collectively, these results indicate that L-threonate inhibited DKK-1 expression in DPCs and therefore is a good treatment for the prevention of androgen-driven balding.

Click here for full study http://www.bmbreports.org/jbmb/pdf.php?data=MTEwMjA1MDJAcGRmX3JhaW50cmFjZV9sZWV5c0AlNUI0My0xMCU1RDExMDEyODA4NTNfJTI4Njg4LTY5MiUyOUJNQjM5MiUyODEwLTEzMiUyOS5wZGY=

Related studies:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17657240

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20701628

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12397096

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19416266

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16536801

In the last three months have tried Threonic Acid enhanced buffered ascorbate (Transport C-PLUS) and a little later on Calcium L-Threonate, which is better supported than using L-Threonate or Threonic acid alone.

Magnesium L-Threonate has not been approved by the FDA yet, so will have to wait on that.

So far, no hair has fallen out, but it's hard to say if anything new has happened. It will take a good 6-months toreally know anything for certain.

So far the best price on Calcium L-Threonate is from www.Amazon.com

I have not yet tried this transdermally, so if anyone wants to try using this with a little DMSO and water, that could be an interesting experiment.

In an old patent, Calcium L-Threonate was claimed to be a very potent treatment of osteoporosis. DKK-1 is a major factor in osteoporosis, because when Wnt proteins are inhibited, just like hair loss, there is bone loss.

_________________My regimenhttp://www.immortalhair.org/mpbregimen.htm

Now available for consultation (hair and/or health)http://www.immortalhair.org/health-consultation

Regarding other functions, Wnt protein signaling in osteoblasts is necessary to promote BMP-2-mediated differentiation of pre-osteoblast cells, and therefore, DKK1 may play a key role in regulating pre-osteoblast differentiation and the development of multiple myeloma-associated osteolytic bone lesions.

Treatment of reconstructed skin with DKK1 reproduces the hypopigmentation and thickening of skin through Wnt/beta-catenin signaling. DKK1 may be useful for reducing skin pigmentation and for thickening photo-aged skin and palmoplantar wounds caused by diabetes mellitus and rheumatic skin diseases.

DKK-1 is needed by the body, Calcium L-Threonate is metabolite of vitamin C.

_________________My regimenhttp://www.immortalhair.org/mpbregimen.htm

Now available for consultation (hair and/or health)http://www.immortalhair.org/health-consultation

act<react - Yes, and so far nothing to report (positive or negative). I've tried a few different forms so far. I'm sticking to Calcium L-Threonate since the studies bear this out to be the most effective. I use a product called BioCalth.

Amazon has it at the lowest price.

_________________My regimenhttp://www.immortalhair.org/mpbregimen.htm

Now available for consultation (hair and/or health)http://www.immortalhair.org/health-consultation

I'm going to give this a shot, then do some experimentation, the thirty month window would be a little more kind to me I'd think so results might be more apparent, as I've already pretty much nailed my hair loss (or slowed it to a dead crawl).

Hell, I'll give this stuff a spin as well for a while. If it works for us, maybe we'll have to consider adding the product to the Ortho Nutrition line for a more affordable price.

_________________Interested in a Laser Helmet, or curious about how you can utilize LLLT (Low-Level Laser Therapy) treatments in our fight against Hair Loss in general? Then, by all means, feel free to drop me a private message!!!

What distinguishes L-threonate from proanthocyanidins? There were some pretty convincing in vitro studies showing that proanthocyanidins, when added to a co-culture of dermal papilla cells and outer root sheath, prevented the DHT-induced apoptosis of the ORS cells. The only thing that seems to have become of proanthocyanidins is a sorry ass website full of cheap marketing ploys that spell out "scam."

mphatesmpb - The interest is the mechanism, because DKK-1 is probably the most formidable factor in androgen driven baldness. Still, it will be a little while for this to prove itself, because it could easily wind up as another proanthocyanidin, or even do less. The encouraging thing though is calcium L-threonate is as effective as estrogen in inhibiting DKK-1, and it has already been proven to promote collagen regeneration.

_________________My regimenhttp://www.immortalhair.org/mpbregimen.htm

Now available for consultation (hair and/or health)http://www.immortalhair.org/health-consultation